Improvement in combined slate and scholar s companion



W. D. McCORMICK.

COMBINED SLATE AND SCHOLARS COMPANION.

No. 188,651. Patented March 20,1877.

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INVENTOB M ATTORNEYS.

N-PETERS, FNOTO-UTHDGRAPHE. WASHINGTON. D C.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @EEIGE WILLIAM D. MCCORMICK, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINE DSLATE AND SCHOLARS COMPANION.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,651, dated March :20, 1877; application tiled October 7, 1876.

' the line 3 y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention belongs to that class-of slates whose frames are chambered or recessed to receive pens, pencils, sponge, rubber, &c., and which recess is provided with a sliding cover.

The improvement consists in the combination, with the frame and the sliding cover, of a friction-sprin g arranged to bear against and prevent the accidental displacement of the cover when the latter becomes loose, and there by avoid the spilling of the articles.

The improvement further'consists in recessing one of the sides or ends of the slate-frame in the middle, and short of its entire length, so as to leave the ends of the recessed side solid, and attaching separate rabbeted ribs to the sides of said recess, which form guideways for .the cover, as and for the purpose hereinafter described.

/ A represents the slate, and B the slate- One side or. end of the frame B is made wide, and has a chamber formed in it of sufficient capacity to contain the pencils, penholders, crayons, rubber eraser, sponge, and other small articles that the pupil may wish to use, and which chamberv is made of less length than that of the slate-frame, so as to leave both the ends of the recessed portion solid in transverse direction. To the side of the frame B, along the side edges of the mouth of he chamber, are attached, or upon it are formed, two small cleats or ribs, a a, the inner sides of which are rabbeted, to receive the edges of the cover 0, which is slipped into place from either end.

The cover C is held in place by friction against a small wire spring, D, one end of' which is attached to the bar of the frame B at the side of the recess in said bar, and its other end rests upon the bottom of said recess. The spring D is bent so that its bow or bend may project enough to press against the inner side of the cover C, when the said cover is pushed into place, as shown in Fig. 3.

The cover C may also be used as a ruler for the slate or for paper.

By leaving the ends of the recessed portion of the frame solid the frame is made stronger, and is not liable to warp transversely, or split longitudinally, as when the chamber is planed out from end to end, and the separate projecting ribs, which take the place of the planed undercut edges, serve to make a more secure hand-hold, and also, when the slate is resting upon the same, serve to give an inclination to the slate like that of a desk, which improves the use of the slate.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination, with the recessed or chambered slate-frame and the sliding cover, of a friction-spring arranged to hold the cover in its place, substantially as described.

2. A slate-frame, B, having one of its sides or ends recessed or chambered short of its entire length, so as to leave both the ends of said side solid, in combination with the separate projecting ribs at a and the sliding cover C, substantially as and for the purpose described.

WILL [AM D. MCCORMICK.

Witnesses:

J 012m E. SHEPARD, JOHN YOUNGER. 

